As the weather starts to get warmer and spring rain is watering the earth, many dental students are looking forward to summer break. It is always a balance between relaxing and being productive during any break in dental school.
Reflecting on our history and profession on Juneteenth
June 19, 1865. This date commemorates General Gordon Granger arriving with Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas, revealing the end of the Civil War and declaring the emancipation of those who were still enslaved two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Practicing wellness through birdwatching and photography
I grew up in Heredia, Costa Rica, one of the richest coffee-producing cities in the country. Costa Rica has over 900 bird species, which account for 10% of the earth’s avian population diversity.
The mental effects of ‘gunner’ culture
In dental school, we are often surrounded by ambitious and driven students, who are often called “gunners.” Gunners seek success, can be competitive and may act on self-interest without thinking of their fellow classmates.
Taking time for the little things
If you have been on TikTok recently, you have probably come across a video featuring the following quote: “You have to start romanticizing your life. You have to start believing that your morning commute is cute and fun — that every cup of coffee is the best that you’ve ever had. That even the smallest and most mundane things are exciting and new.”
My journey into the complex field of orofacial pain
Every prospective dental student has their reasons for why they want to become a dentist. I came to the field like many others, taken by the opportunity to help patients day-to-day by relieving their dental pain and addressing their aesthetic concerns through clinical and artistic skills.
5 minutes a day: Meditating and journaling to help navigate the dental school application cycle
Between balancing coursework, preparing dental school applications and maintaining a social life, it’s inevitable to not feel overwhelmed or stressed. The pandemic has exacerbated challenges with our physical health, while also amplifying many academic, mental and social challenges.